Clifford Chance

Coronavirus: Can electronic signatures help?

6 March 2020

The precautions being put in place globally to address the spread of Coronavirus (Covid 19) include recommending or requiring many to work from home. This has raised the question of whether it is possible to legally execute documents by electronic signature. The answer is it depends. Relevant factors include the governing law of the document, the type of document that is to be signed, the form of electronic signature used and whether there are cross-border implications to be considered.

This briefing considers the position of electronic signatures under English law and looks briefly at electronic signing (or e-signing) platforms.

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